Advocacy Team
Ask legislators to pass the Illinois Legislative Accessibility Act
Access Living friends and allies:
Today, we’d like your help to ask our Illinois legislators to pass the Illinois Legislative Accessibility Act as part of a week of advocacy action by the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL).
Right now, public disability access to the proceedings of the Illinois General Assembly is currently a patchwork process. Also known as SB 180/HB 855, the Legislative Accessibility Act aims to streamline disability access to the proceedings of the Illinois General Assembly, and establish a process for phasing in accessibility improvements.
[Quick link to take action by writing an email is here!]
The Legislative Accessibility Act would require the following:
- The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall each appoint an accessibility coordinator who, in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, shall be responsible for addressing accessibility needs for his or her corresponding house.
- The Illinois General Assembly website shall include either an email address, web form, or other similar mechanism to request reasonable accommodations to meet the accessibility needs of people with disabilities attending legislative events, such as hearings.
- Establishment of the Illinois General Assembly Accessibility Task Force. Members would serve on a voluntary basis. The Task Force would be required to make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning General Assembly accessibility no later than December 31, 2021.
We’re excited about this bill because it will help bring people together to work on a good plan to increase accessibility with our legislature!
Please contact your legislators at this link today and ask for their support! Thank you for your advocacy and support for the work of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living.